Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
We all know the importance of keeping our teeth clean, but did you know recent research thinks our overall health starts in the mouth? So a healthy mouth is a healthy body! In addition to just being able to clean your teeth with a toothbrush, there are far more items on the market which can help. In the past, those items have always been plastic, but the market is changing as well as discovering new ways to give you your smile. The Humble Co are great advocates of sustainability with lots of items such as toothbrushes, floss and even chewing gum. We were sent samples of the Bamboo and Plant Based Materials toothbrushes and the interdental brushes.
The bamboo brush handle is 100% recyclable so won’t end up in the ocean or landfill like the other 3.6 billion brushes that are produced each year. The bristles are made of BPA-free nylon (so aren’t recyclable) but come in different softnesses so you can tailor your brush to your needs. The Plant Based Materials brush is made of wheat starch, which gives it the black handle and also comes in different brush softnesses. There really is no difference using these brushes compared to their plastic counterparts and you can buy different sizes for children or adults. These would be great for taking on holiday where you can throw them away almost anywhere and know that they aren’t going to pollute as much! Check out the website for their electric toothbrush heads as well.
The Humble Co also produce these interdental brushes, or ‘little Christmas trees’ as my dentist calls them, due to the triangular shape brushes. These BPA-free brushes are used in between your teeth to get to the areas which toothbrushes might not be able to reach, and where you’re more likely to find cavities start. The brushes come in 5 different sizes as we all have different gaps between our teeth, and there’s also a multipack available in a range of sizes if, like me, you have different gap sizes between your teeth.between the teeth Again, these work just the same as plastic ones, with the brushes being just big enough for you to hold them comfortably and the brushes are tough enough to clean between the teeth nicely. I have been using these interdental brushes for a few years and find them essential for my bedtime routine. Of course, being bamboo they are recyclable too!
For toothpaste, Glo 32 have this whitening toothpaste made with coconut oil. If you’re not familiar with coconut oil for mouth care, it has been used for centuries to ‘pull’ out any stains and bacteria in a method called ‘oil pulling’. The coconut oil has properties which whiten teeth by literally gathering up stains and leaving teeth whiter, so it’s no wonder that it’s now a component of toothpaste. Glow 32 have created this Advanced Whitening Toothpaste as an alternative to heavier chemicals such as peroxide. Like any toothpaste, it is used daily and can gently remove stains over time. It smells lovely too! I have been using this for a week now and although I don’t have many stains on my teeth, it is lovely and refreshing.
If you need something heavier than toothpaste, Glo 32 also have the Glo 32 Advanced Whitening System. This 14 day treatment has 28 whitening strips (morning and night) and a stilo. The strips are applied to the front of the teeth and left on for 20-30 minutes then rinse with water or brush away an excess. The stilo works the same way, using the brush to to dispense gel onto teeth and leaving for 10-20 minutes but you can use 2-3 times a day. Obviously you don’t eat or drink at the same time as using either method! Over time, the combination method works to reduce stains and discolouration.
Finally, Dentemp have this Oral Care Kit containing a mirror, tongue cleaner, scaler and dental pick. These are similar to the tools your dentist uses but for home use. I’ve been using something similar for a long time and they’re great for everyday use like looking at your back teeth with the mirror, using the scaler if you have specific staining and the tongue scraper is one of those instruments you didn’t know you needed until you become addicted to it! Actually, the tongue scraper is probably one of the tools I find the most useful because it reduces the plaque in your mouth so quickly and just makes your mouth feel cleaner. The tools are made of plastic but the heads are stainless steel, plus they are all dishwasher safe.
With a combination of great items on the market nowadays, and some which are environmentally friendly, you can save yourself a lot of work at the dentist!
Humble products, various prices at Boots
Glo32 Tooth Whitening Toothpaste £10 at Boots
Glo32 Advanced Whitening System, £30 at Boots
Dentemp Oral Care Kit, £8 at Boots
The Review Studio 